Is 3 days enough to see Asmara?

Yes — three days in Asmara is enough to experience the best the city has to offer. Our itinerary covers The Fiat Tagliero garage, the Corso Italia & the Cinema Impero, The Asmara market, the Tank Cemetery & the Keren battlefield, Keren town, the Eritrean Orthodox monasteries & farewell, giving you a genuine feel for Asmara without feeling rushed.

When is the best time to visit Asmara?

November–March: the most pleasant weather (18–24°C) and the clearest air (the Eritrean dry season: the northeast monsoon from the Red Sea brings cool, clear air to the highlands). April–May: the small rains (the "bahri" — the spring rains: light, intermittent). June–September: the big rains (the "meher" — the main rainy season of the Eritrean highlands (500–800mm over 4 months): rain in the aftern

Where should I stay in Asmara?

Central Asmara — the most prestigious hotel in Eritrea, formerly the Italian colonial Hotel Albergo Italia, the accommodation of record in Asmara since the 1930s is a great base for exploring Asmara. Asmara Palace Hotel from €60/night is our recommended hotel for its location and value.

What is Asmara most famous for?

Asmara (ኣስመራ — "They Made Them Unite" in Tigrinya, population 963,000 — the capital of Eritrea and one of the most extraordinary and least visited capitals in Africa) is the city that UNESCO called "a modernist city" and listed as a World Heritage Site in 2017 (the UNESCO citation: "Asmara: a Modernist African City" — the 36th UNESCO World Heritage Site in Africa): an Italian colonial city built b

What language do people speak in Asmara?

Tigrinya (the Semitic language of the highland Eritreans and the official language of Eritrea — closely related to Tigre (the Semitic language of the Eritrean lowlands and northern highland minorities) and more distantly to Amharic (the official language of Ethiopia) and to Ge'ez (the liturgical language of the Eritrean and Ethiopian Orthodox Church — the dead Semitic language equivalent to Latin in the Western Church, in which all the Orthodox liturgies are conducted): the Tigrinya script is the Ge'ez fidäl — the abugida (the syllabic script where each character represents a consonant + vowel combination): a script of 182 characters. Arabic (the language of the Eritrean Muslim lowland communities — the Saho, the Afar, the Kunama and the Beni-Amer peoples): 48% of Eritreans are Muslim and Arabic is an official language. Italian (the language that survives as the café, restaurant and food culture language of Asmara): many older Eritreans speak Italian fluently. English: spoken at the tourist sites and the larger hotels

What currency is used in Asmara?

Eritrean Nakfa (ERN / Nfk). The Eritrean Nakfa is pegged to the US Dollar at an artificially high official rate — the parallel "black market" rate offers significantly more Nakfa per dollar. The economic situation in Eritrea means that cash (US Dollars or Euros) is essential: ATMs do not reliably dispense foreign currency in Asmara (bring all the cash you need for the trip). The prices for tourist services (hotels, guides, transport) are typically quoted and paid in US Dollars or Euros. Local food and market prices are in Nakfa. Note: the economic conditions in Eritrea are subject to change — check current practical information before visiting

How do you get around Asmara?

Taxi (the Asmara taxis — the ancient Fiat and Lada sedans that have been maintained by the Eritrean fixit culture since the Italian and Soviet eras: the taxis are cheap (ERN 50–200 per journey within the city: €0.50–2) and widely available in the city center. Bicycle: Asmara is a hilly city but a bicycle is a viable way to explore the flat city center boulevard and the outlying neighborhoods. Car hire (with driver): necessary for the Keren day trip (92km), the Debre Bizen monastery climb and the Tank Graveyard. The Italian-era railway (the Asmara to Massawa narrow-gauge railway — the most spectacular railway in Africa: the 118km route descending from the 2,300m plateau of Asmara to the Red Sea coast at Massawa, dropping 2,300m in 118km on the 1890s Italian-built narrow-gauge (950mm) track through tunnels, bridges and hairpin turns: the railway stopped regular service in the 1970s but the Eritrean government has restored a section for tourist excursions on Sundays — the most extraordinary railway ride in Africa

How do you get to Asmara?

Asmara International Airport (ASM) — 3km from the city center: taxi to the center (ERN 200 (€2)). Direct flights from: Cairo (EgyptAir), Dubai (FlyDubai), Nairobi (flown 2× per week on the specific days when the Eritrea-Kenya route is operated), Frankfurt and Rome (Eritrean Airlines, infrequent). The most practical entry: Cairo → Asmara (EgyptAir) or Dubai → Asmara (FlyDubai). The Eritrea visa: required for all nationalities — must be applied for in advance at an Eritrean embassy (the embassy in London, Berlin, Brussels or Washington DC for most Europeans and North Americans): the application requires a letter of invitation (an Eritrean resident must sponsor the visitor) or an approved tour operator booking. The processing time is 2–4 weeks minimum. Overland from Ethiopia (the Zalambessa/Serha border crossing): technically possible but the Eritrea-Ethiopia border has been intermittently closed — check the current status carefully

What is the tipping etiquette in Asmara?

Tipping is expected in the tourist sector of Asmara (the guide fees and driver fees include tips): $5–10/day for the guide, $3–5/day for the driver. At local restaurants (the habesha restaurants serving injera and stew): rounding up to the nearest convenient amount in Nakfa is appropriate. At the Bar Vittoria and the Italian-style cafés: ERN 20–50 (€0.20–0.50) tip on the table. The gursha (the hand-feeding hospitality ritual): no money is involved — this is pure hospitality and should be reciprocated with gratitude and (if possible) a small gift

🎧 Asmara Audio Walking Guide

Listen and walk — the map follows you stop by stop

🆓 Free · No app needed · Works offline once loaded

← Back to Asmara Highlights Guide · All guides for Asmara